Former Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to leave the official Prime Ministerial residence to his successor Naftali Bennet.

Bennet, who succeeds the longest-serving Prime Minister of Israel, has acted indifferent to the situation and has been seen as an effort to not antagonize his former mentor and opposition.

"Netanyahu is still using the PM's residence on Balfour Street as if he hasn't been voted out of office, exploiting the lack of clear rules of transition," reported diplomatic correspondent Tal Schneider, middle east eye reported. "He is doing more than sleeping and eating at the residence; he is hosting prominent guests."

She cited the reception of former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and Christians United for Israel founder John Hagee.

 

The Israeli journalist noted that Haley tweeted a photo from the meeting inside the residence referring to Netanyahu by his former title.

Critics have accused Netanyahu of conflating the state's needs with his own. "Now it seems that as far as he is concerned, Bennett is just a guest in the PM's office, and the new coalition will collapse and Netanyahu will be back in power," said Schneider. "Given that premise, why bother packing his bags?"